Mary Lou Williams

Mary Lou Williams Barbe, passed from this life on April 24, 2026 at the age of 99 years and 8 months. She passed at her home she shared with her daughter and son-in-law in Plainview, Texas. A visitation will be held in the Steed-Todd Funeral Home Slumber Room on Friday, May 1st, 2026 from 10:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. Funeral Services will be held at the 16th and Pile Church of Christ on Saturday, May 2nd, 2026 starting at 11:00 a.m. Burial will follow at Lawn Haven Cemetery.
Mary Lou was born on August 17, 1926, to Charley and Artie Barbe in Maxwell, New Mexico, where her father was a ranch foreman. When his health began to decline, the family moved to Lawton, Oklahoma where their families were and they had previously lived. Charles died in 1933, leaving behind a wife and four young children. Mary Lou learned to cook and take care of her brothers and sister at an early age, while her mother worked in the fields. Her mother later married Charley's brother. Her mother and stepfather moved to Dexter, New Mexico and bought a grocery store her senior year, so she lived with an aunt and uncle the last few months of high school. She graduated as Valedictorian of her class in 1944. Upon graduation, she joined her family in Dexter. She helped in the grocery store until she got a civil service job at the Air Base in Roswell, New Mexico.
In 1947, she met Douglas Williams who had moved to Dexter to work for the railroad. They married two months later on June 14, 1947. They attended the Church of Christ in Dexter and were both baptized in February of 1948. Roy Douglas was born to them in April of 1948. The railroad sent Doug to work in Melrose, New Mexico and a few months later to Vaughn, New Mexico. In July of 1950, Doug took a job as dispatcher in Clovis, New Mexico. Their daughter, Delores, was born the following November. They placed membership with 16th and Pile Church of Christ. Mary Lou began volunteering in the office. In 1956, she became their first full-time secretary. After she retired from the office as secretary, she continued to do the bookkeeping. She served 40 years.
In 1956, they bought a 30-acre farm southeast of town. They grew a big garden for several years and sold vegetables to people from town. Mary Lou worked alongside Doug hoeing weeds and picking vegetables. She canned vegetables or prepared them for the freezer most evenings during the summer. She was a 4-H leader for several years and helped young girls learn to sew and cook. She enjoyed crocheting and making quilts. Oil painting became one of her hobbies and in her later years she enjoyed putting together puzzles.
Doug and Mary Lou enjoyed bowling and playing forty-two. They enjoyed fishing and camping. They bought a camper and boat and traveled with friends and family. They enjoyed taking grandkids with them whenever they could. In 1996, they sold their farm and moved to town. They sold their boat and camper, but, continued to travel when they could. They spent their time visiting the sick and helping older neighbors and church family. Family and church family were very important to them. Mary Lou was always willing to stay with family or friends who were sick and ready to fix a meal at any time. She remembered everyone's birthday with cards. They loved keeping their grandkids and great-grandkids. They kept their great-granddaughter Korie when her mother worked. When Mary Lou was 74 and Doug was 77, they babysat two great-grandkids, Baleigh and Ethan, who were six weeks apart. Ashton came along seven years later, and they were ready again to help when needed.
Doug passed away in December of 2013. They were married for 66 years. In 2018, Mary Lou moved in with her daughter and son-in-law. She moved with them to Plainview, Texas in July 2025.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Doug, her parents, two brothers and a sister and several half brothers and sisters.
Survivors are son, Roy (Julia) Williams of Georgetown, TX and daughter, Delores (Jay) Swartz of Plainview, Texas. Grandchildren, Rebecca Williams (Paul Gomez) of Denton, Texas, Roy Lynn Williams of Pojoaque, New Mexico, Ronnie (Jennifer) Williams of Ft. Worth, Texas, Latisha Swartz of Dallas, Texas, Larissa (Breton) Juberg of Hobbs, New Mexico, Douglas (Lauren) Swartz of Plainview, Texas. Great-grandchildren, Korie Tyler of Denton, Texas, Baleigh Williams (Angelo Lujan) of Pojoaque, New Mexico, Daisy Williams of Ft. Worth, Texas, Ethan Encinias of Nashville, Tennessee, Ashton Encinias of Clovis, New Mexico, Lilah and Kinsley Swartz of Plainview, Texas. Great-great-grandchildren Sadie Tyler and Beau Lujan.